[B] Belgian Motorways • Autoroutes de Belgique • Belgische Autosnelwegen

[ChrisZwolle]

Verviers is not yet in the German-speaking part of Belgium actually.

[JOVANO]

Originally Posted by ChrisZwolle

Verviers is not yet in the German-speaking part of Belgium actually.

Haha, but VERVIERS is VERVIERS in all languages !!!!
An exception !!!


( Except in ............. Walloon, they call it Vervi....)

[ChrisZwolle]

I mean this sign is not yet in the German-speaking part of Belgium, hence it's an exception of the usual signage that only shows the destinations in the language of the part you're travelling through rather than the actual name of a destination.

[JOVANO]

Originally Posted by ChrisZwolle

I mean this sign is not yet in the German-speaking part of Belgium, hence it's an exception of the usual signage that only shows the destinations in the language of the part you're travelling through rather than the actual name of a destination.

Don't know really; did not travel that road since years.

Let us just be happy that the signs are clear and logical.

[Brisbaner21]

Very nice looking motorways.

[wolbol]

Ok all these slideshows of belgian motorways aren't realy 'belgian' motorways because they only let you see the belgian part of Liege (what is considered one of the ugliest part for belgian motorways).. So not realy objective if you ask me..

[ChrisZwolle]

Originally Posted by wolbol

Ok all these slideshows of belgian motorways aren't realy 'belgian' motorways because they only let you see the belgian part of Liege (what is considered one of the ugliest part for belgian motorways).. So not realy objective if you ask me..

Well, I'll post some pictures of your region

E314 Leuven - Geleen (NL)

This is just a breakdown of a few pics. Entire set can be seen here

1. E40/E314 interchange Heverlee
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2. Also known as A2 administratively.
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3. The major exit of Leuven, the largest city on the E314.
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4. I'm not sure what the 19 means, maybe old numbering?
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5. Another Leuven exit.
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6. Holsbeek exit.
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7. Distance sign in the median.
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8. Luxury-length deceleration lane.
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9. Aarschot exit, sometimes causing hilarious reaction by Dutch since "aars" means arse or ass.
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10. It was a bit hazy that day.
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11. This is old-fashion concrete pavement. It's okay, but it's noisy, I wouldn't want to live next to it.
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12. Tielt-Winge exit.
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13. Narrow distance sign
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14. They should renew these touristic signs, nearly all of them look like this, not really inviting.
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15. Diest exit. Notice Aken sometimes comes with "(Aachen)". (the actual name of the city, the French part also shows Aix-la-Chapelle).
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16. Exit Diest with a big Pick-up truck.
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17. Van Halen was born here (just kidding, he was Dutch).
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18. Entering the province of (Belgian) Limburg.
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19. Closing in Aachen.
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20. Another dirty tourist sign.
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21. Exit Lummen ahead.
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22. The Zolder racing circuit. Zolder means "attic".
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23. The N72 exit.
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24. Houthalen exit. I wonder if it will ever become an interchange with the A24...
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25. The Midden Limburg natural park.
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26. Midden-Limburg exit.
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27. Genk exit.
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28. Not far to the Dutch border now.
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29. Clean please!
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30. Nice ecoduct.
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31. Lanaken/Maasmechelen exit.
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32. Customs! (I guess it has been closed for decades)
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33. Although it sounds German, Stein is in the Netherlands.
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34. Dutch border above the Meuse river.
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35. Exit Stein.
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36. Speed limits sign.
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37. Interchange Kerensheide. Not uncommon the be stuck in a traffic jam here, it's the Netherlands after all.
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[zaphod]

That shot with the pickup? Is that a Chevy Avalanche? weird

I didn't know the larger GM trucks were that common in Western Europe.

[ChrisZwolle]

You'll see these big American trucks from time to time, in the last few days I drove about 500 kilometers and saw an F-250, F-350, Avalanche, Suburban, and right near my house someone has an older type Monte Carlo.

[BND]

Originally Posted by ChrisZwolle

36. Speed limits sign.
image hosted on flickr

This sign is at the border so no wonder it has the Belgian disease of being covered

[Glodenox]

I've got to say I like the cooperation of our country with The Netherlands for the Stein exit. Long distance sign in Belgium in Belgian style, short distance sign just in The Netherlands in Dutch style

Also something I see right away when comparing those last photos with the Belgian ones: dynamic matrix signs. Luckily there are *finally* plans to add those signs to our motorways, but only on a few stretches, sadly enough.

About a year ago or so I read an article where some politicians were talking about changing those ancient tourist signs and get rid of the brown colour, but I haven't heard anything about it ever since...

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It basically means: there won't be an exit 19, this exit is number 18. Initially there were probably plans to add an exit 19 further on, but for whatever reason they decided not to add it.

Greetings,
Glodenox

[ChrisZwolle]

Suicide lane on N5 in Charleroi.

[ChrisZwolle]

Shipping signage in Charleroi:

[Timon91]

What a picturesque town

[pijanec]

image hosted on flickr

Is all this public lighting really necessary? It seems like a waste of energy to me.

[ChrisZwolle]

They say it's overcapacity energy from their nuclear power plants... But yeah, it's a bit exaggerated...

[Glodenox]

Keep in mind that they're turned off at 1 am (or was it midnight? not sure) and then only the exit and entry ramps are lighted. They do usually keep the lights burning on stretches where road works are going, which is a good decision according to me. In the morning I think they also let them burn if it stays dark while the motorways are getting filled.

I can understand the idea of it being a waste though. I think there should be a decent investigation on whether having those lights burning at night help, or not. But I guess it's a bit hard to do that because perhaps someone could blame the government for an accident they made while they were testing the stretch without lights on...

About that picture of the N5: there's a short lane to the right behind those parked cars (Google maps), which explains that sign. But it is very dangerous to put it there and have such a short lane further on indeed. It could indeed turn people into suicide drivers if they were confused by that sign. That example is one of the many things I dislike about our roads.

Greetings,
Glodenox

[pijanec]

Originally Posted by Glodenox

But I guess it's a bit hard to do that because perhaps someone could blame the government for an accident they made while they were testing the stretch without lights on...

Well, majority of the world drive in dark and that's why cars have lights. I don't think there are any advantages of full car being visible on limited access roads when we can already see its lights.

But it is understandable if they really have too much energy from the nuclear plants.

[Tom 958]

Originally Posted by Glodenox

About that picture of the N5: there's a short lane to the right behind those parked cars (Google maps), which explains that sign. But it is very dangerous to put it there and have such a short lane further on indeed. It could indeed turn people into suicide drivers if they were confused by that sign. That example is one of the many things I dislike about our roads.

Well, if there were proper American-style markings so that the lines separating opposing traffic look different from the ones separating same-direction traffic...

Thanks for the pics and commentary. This is a good thread.

[Natomasken]

Originally Posted by ChrisZwolle

Suicide lane on N5 in Charleroi.

This is dangerously confusing. From the lane direction sign, you would think this was a one-way road.

Evidently the sign is indicating the lane configuration further down the road, not where the sign is. Surprising, from my limited experience driving in Europe I've always found the signage to be very accurate.

What is the lane configuration at this point? Is the center lane for left turns in either direction? I've never seen a 2-way left turn lane in Europe, either in person or in pictures, although I did read on a "Driving in Germany" website that the center lane on a 3-lane, 2-way road was for left turns in either direction unless signs indicated otherwise (i.e., a 2+1 road). 2-way left turn lanes are very common in the US and are distinctively marked. There would be no confusion with a 3-lane, one-way road. One of the few areas it looks like US road practices are better than European ones.